What causes jaundice in most newborn babies?
Jaundice occurs when bilirubin levels get too high in the blood. Bilirubin is a pigment that we all have in our bodies to some degree. It is a by-product of the breakdown of red blood cells. Bilirubin is normally “processed” by the liver and excreted in the stool and urine. It is what gives the stool a brown color, and the urine a yellow color. When the level of bilirubin gets too high, it can be deposited in the skin giving a yellow tinge–or in the white portion of the eyes making them look yellow. This is jaundice. Jaundice occurs in most normal newborns. This is referred to as “physiologic jaundice of the newborn.” What happens in this condition, is that the liver in the new baby is immature. It gets overwhelmed by the load of bilirubin and is unable to process it all at once. Jaundice results, but rarely is a problem. The jaundice peaks by the third to fourth day after which the liver reaches its full functional potential. The excess bilirubin is taken care of and the jaundice res
